I haven't seen Transformers yet, but I'm hearing TONS about the "untitled J.J. Abrams project" trailer that appeared before the movie. I saw the trailer on YouTube, and I have to admit, I'm freakin' excited about this movie. Whatever this is, I plan to follow it closely. There's a related web site, "Ethan Haas Was Right," http://www.ethanhaaswasright.com/. Play "Simon" with the little puzzle pieces and it shows you a movie clip, but I couldn't hear on my office PC.

What's the buzz? The speculation I'm hearing is either another Godzilla (I hope not!) or something related to H.P. Lovecraft mythos (I hope SO!). That creature's roar and the scope of the destruction in the trailer gave me chills.

Near as I can tell it's all speculation at this point. I've followed a few of the trails and they all fall short of giving any credible proof that it might be a godzilla movie, a Cthulu movie, alien invasion, or my favorite, a giant fire breathing lion. Sadly, the lion one is the closest to proof, because it's hard to tell if the guy says "it's a lion" or "it's alive" or something else. I'm keen to find out more about it, but I've wasted a couple hours searching for leads and I think I'll just wait til the official online trailer release, or more info is officially "leaked"

P.S. I kinda hope it's all shot on DV like the trailer. If it's done right, it could be extremely cool. As long as there isn't too much shaky cam when we want to see things. I mean, even an amateur camcorder user knows to try and hold it steady so you can see what you're looking at.

Oh, and the working title of the film is called "Cloverfield"

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-07-08-abrams-trailer_N.htm

Hollywood-Elsewhere.com's Jeffrey Wells says the trailer is a clever ploy working just as the studio hoped.

I saw the trailer on YouTube, and I have to admit, I'm freakin' excited about this movie.

Paramount has not posted the trailer online, and pirated versions are being quickly stamped out by the studio, claiming copyright violation.

the trailer is on apple now, in HD even

"its a lion, its huge"

I just saw it... it looks amazing. I can't wait to see it!

I was hoping it was a small part of the Half Life movie. The whole thing was from the cameras point of view, so First person, just like the game. But I'm not going to get my hopes up. Either way it looks pretty cool.

To me the flavor of it and the acting in the trailer was very "lost" like. The "Lion" also had a "Smoke Monster" feel to it. Definitely interested in what this is going to pan out to be. I do think it would be interesting if the whole film was shot handheld DV, but not like the "Blair Witch".

Actually, it goes: "It's alive, it's huge!" Check this out:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33261

JJ Abrams says there are more sites out there. We're talking about it on an Iron Man fanboard, www.advancediron.org. JJ also says that Ethan Haas has nothing to do with it, but, when can you ever believe the guy behind LOST? Trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/11808/

heath

Anyone know what camera they used to shoot this?

I wouldn't be surprised if it's an HDV or AVCHD consumer camera, at least a single CMOS or three CCD unit.

heath

I also think it is at least some type of HDV camera if it is from a digital camera. There wouldn't really be a 1080p HD trailer if it wasn't shot with HD of some type. A lot of the shots have pretty low detail for whatever reason but it is kind of hard to tell since the video has so much noise. There are a few shots however where you can make out some pretty good detail such as that from a CMOS HDV camera or maybe even the HVX200.

I might go as far to even say it looks like it was shot at 50i and then blended down to 25p. I notice some frame ghosting in some scenes with motion. Some of the motion blur clearly looks like two fields blended together and not true motion blur. This may be the look they are going after to create something that is easy to work with (24p) but at the same time could have a sort of home video camera look to it. Either that or they are using a HDV camera that doesn't have any true progressive support such as a Z1.

This still looks great. But if you check out imdb, it says this thing was shot on the genesis... Really?

Just took a look at the trailer for Cloverfield and boy...it looks really exciting!

[Of course... coming a month after "I Am Legend" which also sees some of the same landmarks being destroyed]

Its good, in my opinion, that we can have an appetite for these kind of films again after 9/11.

I really love the handheld/home-video style, it gives you the "you are there" feel.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/11808/

I like how the footage isn't quite as grainy as the teaser; I think it's because they shot it on the Genesis. Handheld Genesis must not be fun, if you're the Camera Operator!

heath

Ethan Haas definitely has nothing to do with "Cloverfield". Ethan Haas was a marketing campaign for the game "Alpha Omega". Hence all the references to 'the beginning is the end' etc throughout the Ethan Haas Was Right website.

I think "Cloverfield" will be a cool film if they take the approach of the HP Lovecraft mythos. However, if it's just another Godzirra then I fear it may well be naff.

By the way to prove this, either google the Alpha Omega website or just finish the 5 levels of the Ethan Haas website.

Dave,

We've been on so many wild goose chases, it's unbelievable. I can't wait for the movie.

heath

So what does everyone think?

HP Lovecraft?

Godzilla rip off?

Fire breathing lion?

I like how the footage isn't quite as grainy as the teaser; I think it's because they shot it on the Genesis. Handheld Genesis must not be fun, if you're the Camera Operator!

heath

Heath, you have no idea. Shouldering the Genesis all up (i.e. with the deck onboard) sucks bigtime. Not to mention the fact that there's the option of "keep it rolling, one more" which means that you can end holding it for 10...15...20 minutes etc. Luckily the new flash drive is starting to make appearances which shaves off a good 7 lb from what I hear.

I did notice a shift from the 1/3" look to a Genesis look in the trailers once they get outside the party. There is something definitely more scary about the destruction-of-the-city CGI routine when it is seen from street level as opposed to the usual God's-eye view/fake helicopter shots.

Here's a new one.

This is from a connected (maybe) website called Rage of the Gods (possible lovecraft hint?)

http://www.rageofthegods.com/demonscantdecipherthiscode.jpg

Anyone any good at cracking codes?

The 4 digit string 1942 appears more than any other string but I just can't see the pattern in there.

SCRAP THAT, another red herring. rageofthegods.com has nothing to do with cloverfield either.

Lots of wild goose chases, trust me. Here's a list of sites that are definitely tied to Cloverfield:

www.1-18-08.com

www.cloverfieldmovie.com

http://www.slusho.jp/ (Slusho!, a fictional Japanese Slushee-type drink, showed up on Heroes the other night (http://www.cloverfieldnews.com/2007/11/20/slusho-drink-shows-up-on-the-set-of-heroes/))

http://www.tagruato.jp/index2.php (owners of the fictional Slusho!--they're a drilling company Rob in the movie is allegedly going to work for, hence the party)

http://www.boldfutura.jp/ (this one I'm not so sure of)

http://www.jamieandteddy.com/ (the girl is in the movie, but not in the latest trailer; password: jllovesth)

http://www.cloverfieldnews.com/2007/09/07/myspace-page-updates/ (links to a few of the characters' MySpace pages)

Other:

http://www.cloverfieldnews.com/ (my favorite Cloverfield fan/news site)

http://cloverfieldclues.blogspot.com/ (my other favorite C.F. fan/news site)

Some analysis of the monster seen briefly in the trailer (http://www.steaknbj.com/forum/t1600-trailer-2-monster-discussion.html).

Hope this helps,

heath

ps-The big corporation updated its site with news that may further hint what's going on. Is the monster freed from below the sea (Tagruato is a deep sea drilling company), or did Slusho!, owned by the corporation, create it through some strange, genetic experiments?

http://cloverfieldclues.blogspot.com/2007/11/tagruato-update-rrc-article.html

heath